Zelensky on Crimea operation: We cut off logistics, take control of peninsula's fuel and energy infrastructure

President Volodymyr Zelensky made the statement in an interview with the Financial Times, as reported by Ukrinform, citing the President's Telegram channel.

"Some time ago, we launched the Crimea operation. It includes deep strikes and mid-range strikes. We were slowing down the militarization of our peninsula occupied by Russia: military bases, depots, air defense systems, all the sites from which aircraft take off, from which missile strikes against us are launched, and logistics. We cut off logistics and brought the fuel and energy sector under control. We showed what it means to operationally control the skies at a specific point, at a specific time," Zelensky said.

He noted that the Crimea operation had been preceded by strikes on Novorossiysk, as well as attacks on Russia's energy sector and port infrastructure—"the very places where they make money from energy, which they then spend on military bases and their military production."

"Russian business began to understand that they will not win the war. And they are losing both time and money, and, frankly, they will lose hope, because many of them had hoped to capture us," the President said.

As previously reported, on July 6 an oil and gas terminal in Kerch, in temporarily occupied Crimea, caught fire following a strike by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Power outages were also reported in Sevastopol, Simferopol, Yalta, Bakhchisarai, and the Rozdolne district of the peninsula.

Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine